Tthe Social Scene with Margot Thomas
HMS LANCASTER A Royal Navy Duke Class Type 23 frigate visiting Panama as part of a round the world 30,000 nautical mile voyage, was welcomed by a strong contingent of UK subjects and Panamanian political figures, headed by British ambassador Dr Ian Collard, earlier this week.

The Lancaster, captained by Commander Peter Laughton, is known as “The Queen’s Frigate” as Queen Elizabeth II bears the honorary title of The Duke of Lancaster and shortly before the ship set sail spent a day aboard.
The ship has a number of firsts to exhibit to the nine countries she will visit before returning to Portsmouth in time for her 200 crew members to spend Christmas at home.

She is the first ship to be equipped with the new Wildcat Helicopter, the first ship to exhibit the new fire retardant naval, uniforms, the first major change since World War II and the first ship to have a Royal Marine chef since the Marines were founded in 1664

Visitors were invited to tour the ship, including a visit to the upgraded command center, and got the opportunity to talk with members of boarding parties that play an important role when the vessel is on patrol in anti-pirate and anti-drug operations. On an earlier mission in the Caribbean, HMS Lancaster captured a high speed drug-carrier loaded with cocaine with a street value of $150 million.
When she returns home she will likely be welcomed by a fly past of one of Britain’s remaining historic Lancaster bombers, a gesture reserved for the ship that carries the same name.